IN 2003, Space Shuttle Columbia breaks apart in the skies above America.
In a special three-part series, astronauts’ families and NASA staff share personal stories of the launch, unfolding disaster and fallout.
This series combines first-hand testimony alongside previously unseen archive footage to chart the in-depth story of the Columbia space shuttle tragedy.
Those people who lived through it all – the astronauts’ wives, husbands and children and the staff at NASA, some of whom have never spoken before – reveal in unprecedented detail, how and why the disaster happened.
At the heart of this story are the seven astronauts. Extensive self-shot video footage taken during preparation for the 16-day mission and filmed while the astronauts were in space – including tape miraculously rescued from the shuttle debris – bring to life an era that seemed to herald a routine human presence in space.
This series tells the story of one of America’s most iconic institutions, examining the collective decisions made at NASA before Columbia’s launch, during the mission and after the disaster. Space travel pushes the limits of human endeavour, and in the wake of the tragedy, the series pulls into sharp focus the inherent risks and rewards of human space flight.
Episode 1 unfolds as NASA prepares Space Shuttle Columbia for its 28th mission, and excitement and trepidation build among the astronauts and their families as they count down to launch.
We hear from the seven astronauts – a mixture of veterans and rookies – and their families, as they train for an awe-inspiring journey of a lifetime. During preparations for the mission, NASA grounds its entire shuttle fleet when cracks are found in the fuel lines. It is a nerve-wracking time for the families, bringing back memories of the Challenger disaster in 1986, and the risks versus the rewards of human space travel.
The show premieres Monday, November 11 2024 8.30pm on ABC TV and ABC iview
